Welcome to HVAC-Talk.com, a non-DIY site and the ultimate Source for HVAC Information & Knowledge Sharing for the industry professional! Here you can join over 150,000 HVAC Professionals & enthusiasts from around the world discussing all things related to HVAC/R. You are currently viewing as a NON-REGISTERED guest which gives you limited access to view discussions

To gain full access to our forums you must register; for a free account. As a registered Guest you will be able to:

Participate in over 40 different forums and search/browse from nearly 3 million posts.

Threaded View

Trane Convertible Air Handlers 1-1/2 - 5 Ton

I'm a home owner with no HVAC experience except owner maintenance normally required for an a/c system I'm one of several homeowners who have the same problem with the same Trane air handlers. I have the subject air handler model GAM5A0A24M21SAA. It was installed new 06/2011. Last month (09/2012), some sort of algae in the tray under the coil prevented the water from reaching the primary drain line. The water overflowed, essentially falling into the airflow (which is up) and the water fell to the ground in the closet in which it is installed. From there, the water seeped into the concrete slab and leeched into 2 adjoining rooms rooms with laminate flooring. Major sections of the laminate popped and warped .

The best description of the "algae" is it looks like snot (sorry about that). I live in southeast Georgia and it has rained nearly every day last summer so our humidity has essentially been 100% for 3 solid months. When I my installer/service technician ("ST"), he removed the top panel (behind which is the coil), shined a light into the drain tray, saw a glob of "algae", went outside to where the drain line ends, put a vacuum to the drain line and sucked about a handful of "algae" out of the tray under the coil. The backed up water then flowed out and I paid him $ for the visit plus buying and having replacement laminate installed - I'm out several hundred $$.

No where in my user manual/maintenance procedures, etc. does it mention checking for algae in the drain tray. In fact, my documentation specifically states there are no user serviceable componets behing that panel (the coil section) and not to even open it.

1. Does anyone else have this algae problem? I have 4 neighbors here with the same Trane air handler/algae problem (I will get to them shortly);

2. Is there a way to make the algae stop growing in there? How can I go on vacation for the summer, leaving my air handler to make algae the whole time and ruining the floors? The mold would be right behind the water.

3. Do you think Trane has some responsibility for the damage caused? I have one neighbor in particular that has a) thousands of $$ of damage (their air handler is on the second floor, the water is backing up and falling into the main ducting; from there it is being blown everywhere and leaking through nearly every duct joint. They literally have water spots/dripping showing up somewhere new every day. The ST has been unable to remove and stop the algae and get the water flowing properly into the main drain to this day.

4. Do you think Trane needs to find a solution and fix these air handlers at their expense?